Lewering a fatboy (help)
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,624
Likes: 189
From: Newcastle, Ca.
Had mine lowered an inch and scraped boards more than before lowering. Put it back to stock, been riding 2up more lately. When actually riding no one can tell if its lowered an inch or two, especially if you weigh 200+ or are riding 2up, and no one really cares... No doubt it looks better lowered when parked.
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 340
Likes: 1
From: SoCal
I've been thinking about going with the Shotgun or Platinum air ride come tax return time. Purely a looks thing. But then again, that's the main reason why I bought a Deluxe: looks.
Really torn about the difference in handling though. I live in SoCal and ride a lot, all the time, on some great roads -- whether mellow cruising or scraping footboards, engine guard, or the primary in the twisties (without even really trying to). I sometimes scrape on right turns at red lights, from a dead stop!
Going lower means I'll need to slow down even more, right?
Also, those of you with air rides: When you go from slammed, to raised to a "sane" riding height, how drastic is the change in headlight aim?
Really torn about the difference in handling though. I live in SoCal and ride a lot, all the time, on some great roads -- whether mellow cruising or scraping footboards, engine guard, or the primary in the twisties (without even really trying to). I sometimes scrape on right turns at red lights, from a dead stop!
Going lower means I'll need to slow down even more, right?
Also, those of you with air rides: When you go from slammed, to raised to a "sane" riding height, how drastic is the change in headlight aim?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,864
Likes: 7
From: kansas city,mo
Can't tell a difference...
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Advanced
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: UK
Thanks for all the input lads its been a great help. I put forward controls on last year so that will help also if I lower it sorry when I lower it. I am only 230lbs and ride 2 up a few times of the year.
Last edited by Charlie Harlie; Jan 13, 2010 at 08:19 AM.
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
Please help I bought a 93 FLSTF and I need to know what the stock shock length is. The guy I bought it from said it was lowered but not sure. I scrape my rear Big Growl exhaust, but the guy fabricated a bracket for them. When I ride 2 up it gets worse.
Thanks for the help!
Thanks for the help!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 5,361
Likes: 117
From: auckland,new zealand
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/softa...nty-bucks.html
this is how you lower it with lowering bolts! fairly straight forward!, doesnt effect handling!! just the ride,you feel a pot hole or rut in the road thats for sure!
this is how you lower it with lowering bolts! fairly straight forward!, doesnt effect handling!! just the ride,you feel a pot hole or rut in the road thats for sure!
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
I don't want to lower it since it is already lowered. I want to raise it back up so the pipes wont drag solo or 2 up. I take it longer bolts drop it and shorter ones raise it?
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,796
Likes: 36
From: Toronto, Ontario
Story is a hard-*** 
,
Mine is lowered 2" front and rear, I rode it 1 year with the rear only lowered, and actually rode it for a few month, with 2"+ forks and the rear lowered 1". here is the verdict.
- Best handling (believe it or not) 2"+ fork tupes and rear down, the bike looked like *** though, and on high way speed I run the risk of dangerous wobbles, but it made me laugh loud and deliriously happy on corners.
- With Stock Fork and back lowered 1.5", bike handled OK, no issues (other than the harsh ride ofcourse ).
- With Front 1" lower and rear 2" lower (rode it one season) bike was good, but now I scraped hard part on the right hand (I like to corner) and it scared me a couple of times.
- With Front 2" down and rear 2" down (current setup), the handling on most corners is good, but due to the lowered front, the rear loses traction and gets very nervous in high speed corners that are bumpy or got some loose gravel, mind you my spring seat amplifies this effect, and the floorboards helped counter it a bit (more stable feedback from my body).
What was surprising though is that now I got more clearance on the right hand turn !, when I checked photos of years before and now, I realize that the angle of the pipes changed meaning the tip of the front header pipe does not come that low (it was the one hitting hard first).
Ok.. that is a lot of bla bla bla.. but you are right, this was discussed to death, now it is discussed to postmortem
,Mine is lowered 2" front and rear, I rode it 1 year with the rear only lowered, and actually rode it for a few month, with 2"+ forks and the rear lowered 1". here is the verdict.
- Best handling (believe it or not) 2"+ fork tupes and rear down, the bike looked like *** though, and on high way speed I run the risk of dangerous wobbles, but it made me laugh loud and deliriously happy on corners.
- With Stock Fork and back lowered 1.5", bike handled OK, no issues (other than the harsh ride ofcourse ).
- With Front 1" lower and rear 2" lower (rode it one season) bike was good, but now I scraped hard part on the right hand (I like to corner) and it scared me a couple of times.
- With Front 2" down and rear 2" down (current setup), the handling on most corners is good, but due to the lowered front, the rear loses traction and gets very nervous in high speed corners that are bumpy or got some loose gravel, mind you my spring seat amplifies this effect, and the floorboards helped counter it a bit (more stable feedback from my body).
What was surprising though is that now I got more clearance on the right hand turn !, when I checked photos of years before and now, I realize that the angle of the pipes changed meaning the tip of the front header pipe does not come that low (it was the one hitting hard first).
Ok.. that is a lot of bla bla bla.. but you are right, this was discussed to death, now it is discussed to postmortem
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